NCJ Number
67553
Date Published
1978
Length
42 pages
Annotation
IN-SERVICE TRAINING SESSIONS CONDUCTED BY CLASSIFICATION AND RECORDS SERVICES OF THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IN MARCH 1978 RECEIVED AN OVERALL ABOVE AVERAGE RATING FROM THE PARTICIPANTS.
Abstract
THE PRIMARY PURPOSES OF THE TRAINING CONDUCTED IN TWO 4-HOUR SESSIONS TO (1) ACHIEVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE KEY FUNCTIONS IN THE CLASSIFICATION PROCESS, AND (2) TO STIMULATE INTEREST IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF NEW METHODS. THE EVALUATION OF THE COURSE WAS BASED ON THE RESPONSES OF THE PARTICIPANTS TO AN ANONYMOUS QUESTIONNAIRE WHICH WAS DIVIDED INTO THREE SECTIONS. THE FIRST SECTION CONCERNED THE DEGREE TO WHICH GOALS AND OBJECTIVES WERE MET. THE SECOND SECTION ASKED FOR OPINIONS ON THE WAY THE COURSE WAS CONDUCTED INCLUDING ADEQUACY OF COURSE MATERIALS, RATINGS ON THE METHODS USED IN THE COURSE, AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S PROFICIENCY. THE THIRD SECTION CONTAINED SUGGESTIONS FOR COURSE IMPROVEMENT. THE TRAINING SESSION RECEIVED AN OVERALL ABOVE AVERAGE PERFORMANCE RATING FROM PARTICIPANTS WITH 60.7 PERCENT OF 28 PARTICIPANTS RATING IT AS BETTER THAN THE AVERAGE THEY HAD ATTENDED. THE PARTICIPANTS WOULD HAVE LIKED MORE DETAILED INSTRUCTION ON THE SUBJECTS COVERED AND MORE INSTRUCTION CONCERNING THE ADAPTATIONS OF THE MATERIAL TO THE VIRGINIA SYSTEM. AS A RESULT OF PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE STUDY OF THE VIRGINIA CLASSIFICATIONS SYSTEM BE CONDUCTED TO ASSESS HOW THE CONCEPTS DISCUSSED IN THE COURSE COULD APPLY TO THE SYSTEM AND TO HELP DEVELOP A PLAN FOR NEW DIRECTIONS IN CLASSIFICATION MANAGEMENT AND CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMMING. IT WAS ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT CLASSIFICATION DETETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF OFFERING THE TRAINING TO A WIDER RANGE OF CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEES, AND 4 OR MORE HOURS BE ADDED TO A FUTURE COURSE. TABULAR DATA ON THE RATINGS AND A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE DATA ARE PROVIDED. (ELP)